We got up at 2:55 a.m. to grab a bite to eat, pile on our layers of warm clothing, and drag ourselves onto the bus. We were 92 teenagers, up early in the morning, braving the elements, all to be a part of history.

By taking advanced placement government or economics courses, we were able to make the trip to Washington D.C., to see Barack Obama be inaugurated as president. We had been looking forward to it for months, and finally Jan. 20 had arrived.

Our teachers deliberated late into the night as to whether to take the Metro in or to take our buses. Wisely, they chose the buses, and we made it into D.C. with ease. Once we arrived, sheer adrenaline and excitement kept us alert, and helped us ignore our numb extremities.

We walked more than 35 blocks to the Lincoln Memorial, where we watched the inauguration on Jumbotrons, after passing countless street vendors, waving pins with slogans such as "PH-OBAMA-NAL!" and we were exhilarated.

In retrospect, the awfully long hike to our final destination was 100 percent worth it. To see so many people gathered in one place, for one man, and for one hope, is possibly the most incredible thing a person can hope to witness. To be part of such a historic and unified event is an unbelievable experience.

A soon as the ceremony began, we forgot our complaints of the low temperature, relentless wind, and tired feet. The fact that we were present for such an epochal event allowed us to only look around in amazement, trying to absorb every detail of the day, and remember every word of Obama's speech.

His inaugural address was unifying, and hope-instilling. Observing the crowd, there were men raising their arms to the sky, in celebration, and women crying in happiness. The feelings of triumph, unity, and jubilation among the people were immeasurable.

As teenagers, we are the future. We knew this was a day we would never forget.

As individuals in the crowd, we were large in numbers, but when President Barack Obama stepped to the podium, he united us with his words and conviction, making us not 1.2 million people, but one nation, "eyes fixed on the horizon," in hope and faith of a brighter future.